Senior Network Engineer – F5 BIG‑IP | ThoughtLabs Belgium | Brussels

ph3Position Summary /h3 ul liThoughtLabs Belgium is seeking a highly skilled Senior Network Engineer specializing in F5 BIG-IP architecture to support a high-profile European Institution project based in Brussels. /li liThis hybrid freelance engagement spans from November 2026 through December 2027, focusing on robust load balancing, high availability, and advanced security integrations. /li liThe ideal candidate brings extensive operational expertise in enterprise routing, switching, and security platforms within complex European institutional frameworks. /li liYou will play a critical role in designing, implementing, and securing mission-critical application delivery networks while ensuring seamless interoperability across diverse stakeholder environments. /li liActive EU citizenship or a valid work permit in Belgium is a strict mandatory prerequisite for consideration on this project. /li liMultilingual proficiency spanning English alongside Dutch and/or French is essential to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and institutional stakeholders. /li liYou will drive comprehensive incident resolution, proactive change management, and security posture enhancements across all deployed infrastructure domains. /li /ul h3Detailed

Job Description
/h3 ul liAs a Senior Network Engineer at ThoughtLabs Belgium, you will spearhead the design, deployment, and optimization of enterprise-grade F5 BIG-IP solutions within a major European Institution infrastructure. /li liYour core mandate involves configuring advanced load balancing, high availability (HA) clusters, and robust security features to protect critical public sector applications. /li liYou will integrate and manage SSL/TLS offloading, Web Application Firewalls (WAF), and Access Policy Manager (APM) modules to enforce stringent institutional security baselines. /li liAlongside F5 technologies, you will leverage deep IP networking knowledge and secondary IT security platforms including Checkpoint and Palo Alto firewalls. /li liThe role requires close coordination with project managers, system administrators, and security officers to execute structured change management and rapid incident remediation. /li liYou will participate in architecture reviews, troubleshoot complex traffic flow anomalies, and document operational procedures in alignment with European framework standards. /li liWorking in a hybrid setup in Brussels, you will balance on-site collaboration with remote flexibility to deliver reliable, high-performance network services. /li /ul h3Key Responsibilities /h3 ul liDesign and implement enterprise F5 BIG-IP solutions supporting mission-critical European Institution applications. /li liConfigure and manage local and global traffic management (LTM, GTM/DNS), high availability clusters, and load balancing policies. /li liDeploy and tune Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules and Access Policy Manager (APM) configurations for secure user authentication. /li liManage end-to-end SSL/TLS termination, certificate lifecycles, and cryptographic security protocols. /li liTroubleshoot complex network routing, switching, and security incidents across enterprise environments. /li liIntegrate and coordinate network operations with Checkpoint and Palo Alto security ecosystems. /li liExecute structured change management procedures, incident response lifecycles, and root cause analysis. /li liCollaborate with multidisciplinary teams in Dutch, French, and English to gather requirements and deliver technical documentation. /li /ul h3Required Qualifications Skills /h3 ul liExtensive professional experience as a Senior Network Engineer or F5 Specialist within enterprise or institutional environments. /li liDeep expertise in F5 BIG-IP design, implementation, administration, and troubleshooting. /li liProven proficiency in load balancing, high availability architectures, and network security features. /li liHands-on experience with SSL/TLS integration, Web Application Firewalls (WAF), and Access Policy Manager (APM). /li liStrong foundational background in core IP networking and IT security platforms including Checkpoint and Palo Alto. /li liValid EU citizenship or an active, legally compliant work permit for employment in Belgium. /li liMultilingual communication capabilities spanning English, Dutch, and French. /li liDemonstrated capability in managing technical incidents and structured IT change management workflows. /li /ul h3Nice-to-Have Skills /h3 ul liPrevious working experience within European Union institutions or international public sector frameworks. /li liAdvanced F5 certifications such as F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator or Solution Expert. /li liVendor certifications from Cisco (CCNP/CCIE), Palo Alto (PCNSE), or Checkpoint (CCSE). /li liExperience with automated infrastructure deployment using scripting languages like Python or Ansible. /li liFamiliarity with containerized network functions and cloud-native application delivery architectur